The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah (MP), has inaugurated a Large-Scale Mining Audit Committee as part of the government’s efforts to tackle long-standing irregularities and improve governance in the mining sector.

The initiative forms part of a broader reform agenda aimed at strengthening both mining laws and the institutions responsible for enforcing them.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Mr. Buah noted that while significant progress had been made in streamlining small-scale mining, the government was now shifting its focus to the large-scale industry.

“This is a very critical area, and we must ensure that all irregularities and challenges are tackled head-on.

On behalf of President Mahama, I urge you to work with us to sanitise the industry,” he said.

The Audit Committee’s mandate will cover:

Exploration rights and land tenure agreements

Environmental and social compliance

Safety permits and resettlement approvals

Fiscal obligations, including royalties and taxes

Mr. Buah stressed the importance of stakeholder engagement, which he said had often been overlooked in the licensing process.

“Communities must be heard. How can they know what is happening when their voices are ignored?

This is what the whole process is about,” he emphasised.

The Minister expressed confidence in the committee’s ability to deliver, adding that its work would strengthen the Minerals Commission and help address illegalities undermining the sector.

“We are determined to completely transform the Minerals Commission, and this audit is the beginning of that transformation,” he declared.